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Nsuta Mine (Insuta Mine; Nsuta-Gaywin Manganese concession; Nsuta-Wassaw), Tarkwa, Western Region, Ghanai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Nsuta Mine (Insuta Mine; Nsuta-Gaywin Manganese concession; Nsuta-Wassaw) | Mine |
| Tarkwa | Town |
| Western Region | Region |
| Ghana | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
5° 16' 59'' North , 1° 58' 0'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tarkwa | 34,941 (2018) | 3.4km |
| Aboso | 8,790 (2018) | 8.8km |
| Prestea | 35,155 (2013) | 25.6km |
| Shama Junction | 20,946 (2017) | 44.6km |
| Sekondi-Takoradi | 138,872 (2018) | 45.9km |
Metamorphic carbonate-type manganese deposit, discovered in 1914 and mined from an open pit since 1917.
The deposit consists of a manganese oxide zone, which is now mined out, and an underlying manganese carbonate zone which was discovered in 1968.
The Nsuta deposit in Ghana is one of the largest manganese deposits in West Africa, with reserves of 13.1 million tons and resources of 29.7 million tons. It is located in the southern part of Ghana’s Ashanti Belt, specifically within the Paleoproterozoic Birimian Supergroup of the West African Craton (WAC). The Birimian rocks mainly consist of volcano sedimentary sequences and have undergone the Eburnean metamorphic event of approximately 2.0–1.9 Ga. The general stratigraphy of the Nsuta deposit is composed by a basal greenstone unit followed successively upwards by argillaceous rocks and tuffs, manganese–carbonates, argillaceous rocks and tuffs, and greenstone. The deposit is primarily composed of carbonate manganese ores, with rhodochrosite (MnCO3) being the main mineral.
The Nsuta manganese ore body is mainly divided into three parts: the oxide zone, the carbox zone, and the carbonate zone. The oxide zone is mainly composed of manganomelane and nsutite, suggested to be of secondary origin, derived from transforming primary manganese carbonate minerals such as rhodochrosite. The carbox zone, which is the transition zone between the oxide and carbonate zones, contains divalent, trivalent, and tetravalent manganese minerals, with manganite being the primary mineral. Other minerals like rhodochrosite and pyrolusite replaced manganite. The carbonate zone primarily comprises rhodochrosite, which makes up more than 90% of the rock volume.
The formation of the Nsuta manganese deposit is a complex process involving several stages. The ore body is a carbonate-type manganese formation and considered to be an Mn analog of volcanogenic exhalative origin. It also underwent subsequent submarine weathering (halmyrolysis) and later metamorphism during the Eburnean cycle (2100 Ma).
Owned by the African Manganese Co. from 1923, then owned by Ghana National Manganese Corp. Produced 267,996 tons of ore (1984).
Located about 20 km SE of Tarkwa.
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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
40 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
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Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Digenite | 2.BA.10 | Cu9S5 |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Pentlandite | 2.BB.15 | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Nickeline | 2.CC.05 | NiAs |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Millerite | 2.CC.20 | NiS |
| ⓘ | Alabandite | 2.CD.10 | MnS |
| ⓘ | Linnaeite | 2.DA.05 | Co2+Co3+2S4 |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Manganosite | 4.AB.25 | MnO |
| ⓘ | Galaxite | 4.BB.05 | Mn2+Al2O4 |
| ⓘ | Jacobsite | 4.BB.05 | Mn2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrolusite | 4.DB.05 | Mn4+O2 |
| ⓘ | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
| ⓘ | Ramsdellite | 4.DB.15a | Mn4+O2 |
| ⓘ | Nsutite (TL) | 4.DB.15c | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Cryptomelane ? | 4.DK.05a | K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16 |
| ⓘ | Romanèchite ? | 4.DK.10 | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 |
| ⓘ | Todorokite | 4.DK.10 | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| ⓘ | Manganite | 4.FD.15 | Mn3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Brucite | 4.FE.05 | Mg(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrochroite | 4.FE.05 | Mn(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Lithiophorite | 4.FE.25 | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | var. Manganese-bearing Calcite | 5.AB.05 | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| ⓘ | Rhodochrosite | 5.AB.05 | MnCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Kutnohorite | 5.AB.10 | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Spessartine | 9.AD.25 | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Cummingtonite | 9.DE.05 | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Wad' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Manganomelane' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Cummingtonite | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Manganite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Romanèchite | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 |
| H | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Li | Lithium | |
| Li | ⓘ Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| C | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| O | ⓘ Cummingtonite | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Galaxite | Mn2+Al2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Jacobsite | Mn2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Manganosite | MnO |
| O | ⓘ Manganite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| O | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Romanèchite | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 |
| O | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Cummingtonite | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Galaxite | Mn2+Al2O4 |
| Al | ⓘ Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Cummingtonite | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| S | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| S | ⓘ Linnaeite | Co2+Co23+S4 |
| S | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Ti | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Alabandite | MnS |
| Mn | ⓘ Cryptomelane | K(Mn74+Mn3+)O16 |
| Mn | ⓘ Galaxite | Mn2+Al2O4 |
| Mn | ⓘ Jacobsite | Mn2+Fe23+O4 |
| Mn | ⓘ Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Manganosite | MnO |
| Mn | ⓘ Manganite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| Mn | ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| Mn | ⓘ Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| Mn | ⓘ Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| Mn | ⓘ Romanèchite | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 |
| Mn | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Mn | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Jacobsite | Mn2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Co | Cobalt | |
| Co | ⓘ Linnaeite | Co2+Co23+S4 |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| Ni | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| Ni | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Ni | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| As | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Sr | Strontium | |
| Sr | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Romanèchite | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 |
| Ba | ⓘ Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
- West African CratonCraton
- Leo RiseShield
Ghana
West AfricaUN Subregion
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References
Sorem, Ronald Keith, Cameron, E. N. (1960) Manganese oxides and associated minerals of the Nsuta manganese deposits, Ghana, west Africa. Economic Geology, 55 (2) 278-310 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.55.2.278
Zwicker, W. K., Meijer, W. O. J. Groeneveld, Jaffe, H. W. (1962) Nsutite - a widespread manganese oxide mineral. American Mineralogist, 47 (3-4) 246-266
Nsuta Mine, Tarkwa, Western Region, Ghana